Women Cross DMZ Statement on Death of Otto Warmbier

June 19, 2017

Women Cross DMZ extends our deepest sympathy to the parents of Otto Warmbier who died today after being returned home to his family in a coma after being detained in North Korea for 18 months. While we do not know the full account of what happened during his imprisonment in North Korea, we believe Otto should not have been detained—nor lost his life. Rather than use Otto’s case to continue a policy that further cuts off communication, we call for improved channels of dialogue between North Korea and the United States. We must prevent any further loss of life and end the suffering of so many families who remain separated by the ongoing state of war on the Korean Peninsula.